Machine for drawing and twisting tubes



Sept. 11, 1934. WRAGE MACHINE FOR DRAWING AND TWISTING TUBES Filed Aug. 22, 1930 3 Sheets-Sheet l h l lH l l hm i l l l lfl l H H HM 1H Sept. 11, 1934.

MACHINE FOR DRAWING AND TWISTING TUBES E. ,WRAGE 1,973,031

Filed Aug. 22, 1930 s Sheets-Sheet 2 7 wllllllllliawwllmwlalazaal /n g \QH WIII EE /f A Sept. 11', 1934. E. WRAGE MACHINE FOR DRAWING AND TWISTING TUBES Filed Aug. 22, 1930' 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented Sept. 11, 1934 v UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE A MACHINE FOR DRAWING AND TWISTING TUBES Emil Wrage, Milwaukee, Wis., assignor to Globe Steel Tubes Company, Milwaukee, Wis., a corporation of Wisconsin Application August 22, 1930, Serial No. 477,000

12 Claims.

and method of making the same, filed July 14,

1930, Serial No. 467,777.

One of the principal objects of the present invention is to provide a simple, effective and powerful means for imparting rotation to the pliers of the carriage so as to supply the force required to twist the tube as it is being drawn.

Another object of the invention is to provide a power drive for rotating the pliers of the carriage which -is I also operable for effecting a power return movement to the carriage.

A further object is to provide a machine of this character which is simple and durable in construction, reliable, effective and speedy in operation, and easy and economical to manufacture and maintain.

Other objects and advantages reside in certain novel features of the construction, arrangement and combination of parts which will be hereinafter more fully described and particularly pointed out in the appended claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, and in which:

Figure 1 is a view partly in side elevation and partly diagrammatic showing the general assem bly of draw bench, draw head and draw car-' riage, certain of the supports for the chain drive for the pliers being omitted for the sake of simplicity in illustration;

Figure 2 is a view in end elevation of the carriage shown in'Figure 1, portions being broken away to illustrate the breaking means employed in the power return;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary detail view partly in elevation and partly in section showing the brake for one of the idler sprockets employed for effecting the power return of the carriage;

Figure 4 is a view taken in section on line 44 of Figure 5, parts being shown in elevation for the sake of illustration;

Figure 5 is a view taken in section on line 55 of Figure 4, with parts shown in elevation for the sake of simplicity in illustration;

Figure 6 is a fragmentary detail sectional view showing the die organization;

Figure 7 is a view in section taken on line 77 of Figure 1, with parts shown in elevation for the sake of simplicity in illustration;

Figure 8 is a viewin transverse section taken on line 8-8 of Figure 1 showing the adjustable supporting bearings employed for the idler sprocket for the power chain drive for the pliers;

Figure 9 is a similar view taken on line 9-9 of Figure 1 and showing the supporting bearings and motor drive for the driving sprocket for the power chain drive for rotating the pliers;

and

' Figure 10 is a detail sectional view taken on the vdraw bench and provides a support and mounting or fixture for a novel die assembly de signed generally at 5 and embodying features 0 the present invention.

As illustrated to advantage in Figure 6, the die assembly 5 includes a fixed fluted die 6 keyed 'or suitably secured in a flanged casing or collar 8, the casing 8 also being keyed as at 7' in the carrier plate 9 supporting the die assembly and fitted and, if desired, suitably secured in the vertical slots of the die head. Alined with the fixed fluted die 6 is a rotatable drawing die 10 which is carried in a cup 11 rotatably supported by means of roller bearings 12 and thrust bearings 13 in a flanged casing structure 14. The casing structure 14 is also supported in the die 'plate 9 against a flange-like abutment 9- formed thereon and is slightly spaced from the casing 8 of the fluted die 6 by means of a washer 15 fastened to the casing 14 and interposed between one end thereof and one end of the casing 8. The structure as thus far described is identical with that forming the subject matter of the pending application of George W. Walzer, filed July 14, Serial No. 467,777, to which application reference is made for a complete and detail disclosure of these features and of the general structure.

In conjunction with this die assembly, a draw carriage, designated generally at 60, is provided and has a suitable frame structure 61 supported by flanged wheels 63 which ride on the side members of the draw bench.

At one end of the draw carriage 60 the usual counter-weighted draw chain hook 23 is provided and its hooked end is adapted to engage the connecting pins between the links of the draw chain 2 to cause the power of the draw chain to be applied to the carriage and pull the same along the draw bench during the drawing operation. 4

At the opposite end of the carriage pliers designated generally at are provided and, as shown in Figure 5, comprise a casing structure designated generally at 26 supported on and keyed as at 2'7 withthe outer end of a shaft 64. On opposed inclined inner walls of the casing 26 serrated gripping jaws 29 are slidably, fitted.

The structure of the casing and gripping jaws are such that when the gripping jaws are thrust forwardly they approach each otherand consequently are adapted to have gripping engagement with the reduced end of the tube to be drawn and'twisted. For moving the jaws forwardly a lever or handle designated at 30' is provided and fulcrumed as at 30 on the carriage. One end of the lever 30' is forked as at 68, and the forked end 68 is provided with trunnions 69 which project into an annular groove formed in the spider designated .at 33'. The spider 33 is slidably fitted on the shaft 64 and has pins 34 secured thereto, the pins 34 being slidably fitted in bushed openings in the casing 25 and having their forward ends adapted to engage the jaws 29.

The shaft 64 is mounted for rotation in. radial and thrust bearings designated at 65 and 66, respectively, there being an abutment or shoulder 67 engageable on the shaft 64 engageable with the thrust bearing 66. The bearings from the shaft 64 are supported in a casing or housing designated generally at '70 and rigidly interconnected with the frame of the draw carriage.

At one side of the housing three sprockets, designated at 71, 72 and '73, are mounted for rotation, the sprockets '72 and '73 being located adjacent the lower portion of the housing and being freely rotatable on similar bearing structures designated at 74 (see Figure 7), these sprockets' '72 and '73 being idler sprockets during the drawing operation. The sprocket 71 is a driving sprocket and is loosely mounted on a driving shaft '78 rotatably supported in bearings provided therefor in the upper part of the casing (Figures 4 and 7). I

The sprocket '71 may be clutched to its shaft by engaging a shiftable clutch member 79 splined on the shaft '78 with a companion clutch member 80 formed on the sprocket '72. For operating the clutch '79 a shifting fork 81 is provided and is fulcrumed as at 82 on the casing. The shifter 81 is operated by means of a control lever 83 having a crank 84 connected by'a rod 85 to the shifter 81.

Intermediate its ends the shaft '78 is geared to a countershaft 86 (see Figure 4) by twin gears 87 and 88 and both the driving shaft '78 and countershaft'86 have beveled pinions 90 at their inner ends which mesh with a double beveled gear 91 fixed to a jack shaft 92 extending longitudinally of and supported for rotation in bearings provided on the casing (compare Figures 4, 5 and '7). By providing the countershaft and utilizing the two pinions 90 and the double beveled gear wheel 91, the parts may be made compact and of relatively small size and yet possess adequate strength for the load to which they are subjected. The jack shaft 92 is connected by a reduction gear train to the rotatable shaft 64'on which the pliers 25 are keyed. In the construction illustrated, the jack shaft 92 has a drive pinion 95 formed with a central opening of non-circular cross section and fitted on a correspondingly formed end portion of the jack shaft. This pinion 95 meshes with a gear wheel 96 which also has 8.

central opening of non-circular cross section snugly fitting the correspondingly formed end portion of an intermediate shaft 97 journaled in bearings provided therefor in the housing and having a second gear wheel 98 keyed thereto and meshing with a gear wheel 99 fixed on the driven shaft 64. The pinion 95 and gear wheel 96 are prevented from moving endwise off of their shafts by means of brasses 100 abutting 'the hubs of the gear wheels and carried on an abutment member 101 of I-shape in cross section and integral with a cap or closure 102 provided for an opening in the housing above the gears 95 and 96. The abutment 101 is backed upby one wall of the housing 70. If desirable," suitable releasable fastening means may be employed for securing the cap 102 in position but ordinarily the weight of the cap and its elongated abutment is suflicient to maintain these parts in proper position. By removing the cap or closure 102 and consequently also the abutment member 101, access may be had to the gears 95 and 96 and they may be readily removed, due to the manner in which they are interconnected with their shafts, and replaced with gear. of different ratio.

For the purpose of imparting rotation to the driving sprocket 71, an endlesssprocket chain 105 is provided and extends along one side bf the draw bench as illustrated in dotted lines in Figure 1 and as will be understood from a comparison of Figures 8' and 9. -It will also be noted that the sprockets '71, '72 and '73 are located in the same vertical plane and to one side of the draw carriage so that they overhang the draw bench and line in the plane of the sprocket chain 105 with which they mesh. The sprocket chain 105 is trained about an idler sprocket 106 supported for rotation adjacent the die head and about'a driving sprocket 107 supported for rotation at the end of the draw bench remote from the die head.

I In order to provide for take-up of the draw chain and for the proper tensioning of the same, the shaft 108 on which the idler sprocket 106 is mounted is supported in adjustable bearing blocks 109 and 110, mounted in guides 111 and 112, carried by'the draw bench and a separate supporting member 113 respectively. The adjustment of the bearing blocks 109 and 110 is 5 controlled by conventional adjusting screws 114 illustrated in Figures 1 and 8, respectively.

The shaft 115 on which the driving sprocket, 107 is inounted is supported for rotation in fixed bearings 116, one of which is secured to the draw o bench and the other of which is fixed on a separate framing structure 117 provided alongside the draw bench (see Figure 9). The foundation which supports the framing structure 117 also supports a suitable motor 118 connected by 1 chain and sprocket or other suitable gearing 119 to a shaft 120 which is geared as indicated diagrammatically in Figure 1 at 121v to the shaft 115. The sprocket chain 105 is driven so that its upper run, which extends in under sprocket wheel '73, up, over and around sprocket wheel '71 and down, under and around sprocket wheel '72, travels to the left as viewed in Figure. 1. With the sprocket chain traveling in acting through the reduction gearing 95, 96, 98 15 augmented during the drawing operation bythe movement of the carriage which is to the right as viewed in Figure 1. This motion of the carriage is obviously cumulative with respect to the motion of sprocket chain 105.

This form of power drive for imparting rotation to the pliers lends itself with slight adaptations to a power return movement for the carriage. To provide for such power return movement it is only necessary to hold or lock one of the sprockets against rotation at the end of a drawing operation.- With one of the sprockets held against rotation the movement of the up per run of the chain 105 to the left as viewed in Figure 1 will cause the carriage to return to its position adjacent the die head. Preferably, one of the idler sprockets is releasably held against rotation whenever desired. In the present construction this is accomplished by providing an elongated hub. on the sprocket 73 and keyed on this elongated hub'a brake drum 125 (compare Figures 2 and 3). A brake band 126 coacts with the drum 125, the band 126 having one end dead-ended or anchored as at 127 and having its other end pivotally connected with an operating crank 128 fixed to a brake shaft 129 supported for movement on the housing and extending transversely thereof. One end of the brake shaft 129 projects beyond the housing and carries brake lever 130. When the brake lever 130 is moved to brake applying position, the brake band 126 will gip the brake drum 125 thereby holding the sprocket '73 against rotation and causing the linear movement of the chain to be imparted to the carriage.

Obviously, the carriage may be automatically controlled by providing adjacent the draw bench suitable trips which engage the levers 83 and 130 at the proper times to throw these levers to one of the other of their two positions.

The reduced end of the tube is projected through the die assembly and is engaged by the jaws of the pliers 25. The motor 118 is then started and the hook 23 is engaged with the draw chain 2, whereupon the tube is pulled through the fixed fluted die 6 and through the drawing or reducing die 10, and as the tube is pulled through the dies the portion of the tube beyond the dies is rotated. As a result of this rotation, of the drawing action and of the holding action of the fixed die 6, the tube is simultaneously drawn and twisted. The action that occurs in the tube is the same as that described in the pending application of George W. Walzer,

above referred to, and reference is made to this application for a complete description of this action and of the general features of the operation. I

The invention claimed is: 1. A machine for drawing and twisting tubes comprising a drawing die, tube engaging pliers,

means for moving the tube engaging pliers longitudinally, chain and sprocket gearing connected to the pliers for rotating the same. as the pliers are moved longitudinally during the. drawing operation and when the chain and sprocket gearing is running free, means for holding the portions of the tube being fed to the drawing die against rotation and means for locking the chain and sprocket gearing to efiect return of the carriage.

2. A machine for drawing and twisting tubing comprising a draw bench, a drawing die mounted in cooperative relation tothe draw bench, a draw carriage supported for longitudinal movement along the draw bench, means for moving the draw carriage longitudinally to pull the tube through the die, tube engaging pliers mounted on and interconnected with theicarriage so as to be constrained to move longitudinally therewith while free to rotate relative thereto, drive and idler sprockets mounted on the draw carriage, a sprocket chain trained around said drive and idler sprockets, supporting and driving sprockets for the sprocket chain, a clutch controlled driving connection between the driving sprocket of the carriage and the pliers for transmitting rotary movement to the pliers and means for holding the portions of the tube fed to the drawing die against rotation.

3. A machine for drawing and twisting tubes comprising a drawing die, a draw carriage in cooperative relation to the drawing die, tube engaging pliers mounted on and interconnected with the carriage so as to be constrained to move longitudinally therewith while free to rotate relative thereto, chain and sprocket gearing. for rotating the pliers as the carriage is moved longitudinally during the drawing operation, said chain and sprocket gearing including sprockets supported for rotation about axes fixed with respect to the carriage sprockets mounted on the carriage, and a sprocket chain running over said sprockets, gearing between at least one of said sprockets and the tube engaging pliers, releasable means for holding one of said sprockets on the carriage against movement for causing the linear movement of the sprocket chain to be translated into longitudinal movement in the carriage and means for holding the portions of the tube being fed to the drawing die against rotation.

4. A machine for drawing and twisting tubes comprising a drawing die,tube engaging pliers, means for moving the pliers longitudinally separate power actuated means, motion transmission means movable with the pliers under the influence of said first named means and actuated jointly by said first named means and by said separate power actuated means for rotating the pliers as they are moved longitudinally, and means for holding portions of the tube being fed to the drawing die against rotation.

5. In a machine for drawing and twisting tubing, a draw bench, a draw carriage supported for movement along the draw bench, a draw chain for actuating said carriage, tube engaging pliers interconnected with the draw carriage tov be constrained to move longitudinally therewith while free to rotate relative thereto, a driving element mounted on the carriage and having a driving connection with the pliers for rotating the same, an endless flexible member supported for movement relative to the draw carriage and connected with said driving element for actuating the same and means for moving the endless flexible member.

6. A machine fordrawing and twisting tubes comprising a drawing die, means for pulling the tube through the drawing die including a draw carriage having tube engaging pliers interconnected therewith, means selectively operable to rotate the pliers or to impart return movement to the carriage and having control levers projecting from the carriage and adapted to be operated automatically, and means for holding portions of the tube fed to the drawing die against rotation.

7. In a machine of the character described, a draw, bench, a draw carriage supported for movement along the draw bench, means for moving the draw carriage along the bench, tube engaging pliers mounted on and interconnected with the carriage so as to be constrained to move longitudinally therewith while free to rotate relative thereto, said draw carriage having a portion overhanging the draw bench, and provided with driving and idler sprockets arranged in substantially the same vertical plane, gearing between the driving sprocket and the tube engaging pliers for transmitting rotary movement from the driving sprocket to thetube engaging pliers, an endless sprocket chain trained over the driving and idler sprockets of the carriage and extending alongside oi! the draw bench, and supporting andvdriving sprockets for the endless sprocket chain rotatable about axes fixed with respect to the draw carriage to rotate the pliers as the carriage is moved along the draw bench.

8. In a machine of the character described, a

draw bench, a draw carriage supported for movement along the draw bench, means for moving the draw carriage along the draw bench, tube engaging pliers on and interconnected with the carriage so as to be constrained to move longitudinally therewith while free to rotate relative thereto, said draw carriage having a portion overhanging the draw bench, and provided with a sprocket wheel, gearing between the sprocket wheel and the tube engaging pliers for transmitting rotary movement from the driving sprocket to the tube engaging pliers, an endless sprocket chain trained over the sprocket wheel of the carriage and extending alongside of the draw bench, supporting and driving sprocket for the endless sprocket chain and rotatable about axes fixed with respect to the draw carriage whereby said endless sprocket chain is adapted to rotate the pliers as the carriage is moved along the draw bench.

9. In a machine of the character described, a'

gearing between the driving sprocket and the tube engaging pliers for transmitting rotary motion from the driving sprocket to the tube engaging pliers, an endless sprocket chain trained over the driving and idler sprockets, of the 'carriage and extending alongside of the draw bench,

supporting and driving sprockets for the endless sprocket chain rotatable about axes fixed with respect to the draw carriage whereby said endless sprocket chain. is adapted to rotate the pliers as the carriage is moved along the draw bench, and a brake for one of the idlersprockets of the carriage whereby said last mentioned idler sprocket may be held against rotation and the movement of the sprocket chain utilized to move the draw carriage along the draw bench.

10. In a machine of the character described, a draw bench, a draw carriage supported for longitudinal movement along the draw bench, means for moving the draw carriage longitudinally of the draw bench, tube engaging pliers mounted on and interconnected with the carriage so as to be constrained to move longitudinally therewith while free to rotate" relative thereto, drive and idler sprockets mounted on the draw carriage, a sprocket chain trained around said drive and idler sprockets, supporting and driving sprockets for the sprocket chain rotatable about axes fixed with respect to the draw carriage and variable speed reduction gearing between the driving sprocket of the carriage and the pliers for transmitting rotary movement to the pliers.

11. In a machine of the character described,

a draw bench, a draw carriage supported for longitudinal movement along the draw bench,105 means for moving the draw carriage longitudinally of the draw bench, tube engaging pliers mounted on and interconnected with the carriage so as to be constrained to move longitudinally therewith while free'to rotate relative thereto, drive and idler sprockets'mounted on the draw carriage, a sprocket chain trained around said drive and idler sprockets, supporting and driving sprockets for the sprocket chain rotatable about axes fixed with respect to the 11 5 drive carriage and reduction gearing including interchangeable gears between the driving sprocket of the carriage and the pliers for transmitting rotary movement to the pliers.

12. In a machine of the character described, a draw bench, a draw carriage supported for movement along the draw bench, means, for moving the draw carriage, tube engaging pliers mounted on and interconnected with the carriage so as to be constrained to move bodily therewith while free to rotate relative thereto, 

